House of Bâby

House of Bâby is a portrait of eighteen Black and Indigenous people who were enslaved by the Bâby family of Toronto, Windsor and Detroit. Although their unpaid labour produced great wealth for the family, they were recognized only as property and were unacknowledged in official historical narratives.

Camal Pirbhai and Camille Turner brought this group to life by representing them amongst the everyday bustling crowd of this country’s busiest hub. Union Station’s majestic architecture symbolizes stability and civic pride but it is the people who are responsible for its strength.  

House of Bâby 2021 –
• Lenticular Print
• 28' x 16'
 

Legend

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  1. Francois Negre
  2. Rosalie Panise (Daughter of Marie Louise)
  3. Marie Louise Panise (Mother of Rosalie, Louis, Catherine, Augustin, & Basile)
  4. Louis Panis (Son of Marie Louise)
  5. Catherine Panise (Daughter of Marie Louise)
  6. Augustin Panis (Son of Marie Louise)
  7. Basile Panis (Son of Marie Louise)
  8. Genevieve Panise
  9. Rosalie Mulatresse (Daughter of Therese)
  10. Leon Mulatre (Son of Therese)
  11. Therese Mulatrese (Mother of Rosalie & Leon)
  12. Genevieve Mulatresse
  13. Job Negre
  14. Marie Panise (Daughter of Francoise)
  15. Francoise Panise (Mother of Marie)
  16. Jacques Mulatre (Son of Jacques Caton & Marie)
  17. Jacques Caton (Father of Jacques, Married to Marie)
  18. Marie Metisse (Mother of Jacques, Married to Jacques Caton)
 

Additional

Enslaved people were categorized by race. Terms like “Panis or Panise” were used to describe enslaved Indigenous people. “Metis or Metisse” was used to describe individuals who were mixed Indigenous and white whereas “Mulatre or Mulatresse” was used to describe individuals who were mixed Black and white. “Negre or Negresse” was used to describe enslaved people of African descent.   

 
 

Credits

Photographer • Koray Erkaya
Project Coordinator • Natasha Douglas
Makeup Artist • Kate Easterbrook
Photography Assistant • Kaan Ates
Assistant • Alvin Luong
Graphic Design • Kass Palter

 

Performers

Gary Henry • Lillian O'Brien Davis • Charmae Freeman • Malachi Anthony Brown • Johann Misat • Kai Sands • Koa Sands • Oakis Sands • Memengwaans Shelby Isaac-Sands • Jessie Lynn Plain • Neva Isaac-Sands • Elizabeth Gray • Elaine T. M. Enandawas • Darnell Bailey • Kahero Diego • Nevaeh Fox • Essence Fox • Kasia Smith

 
 
 
 
 
Artworx_Small.png 
Unseen received grant funding as part of ArtworxTO: Toronto's Year of Public Art 2021–2022, a year-long celebration of Toronto’s exceptional public art collection and the creative community behind it. Working closely with artists and Toronto’s arts institutions, ArtworxTO will deliver major public art projects and commissions, citywide, from fall 2021 to fall 2022. Supporting local artists and new artworks that reflect Toronto's diversity, ArtworxTO is creating more opportunities for citizens to engage with art in their everyday lives. This September, the City of Toronto invites the public to discover creativity and community–everywhere. 

Visit www.artworxTO.ca for full details.
 
 
 
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Special Thanks: Canada Council for the Arts
 
 
 
We would like to acknowledge:

City of Toronto

Funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario. Ontario Arts Council (OAC)